The Omaha City Council approved the $234,000 purchase of a new navigation for the police department helicopter, Able 1.

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Updated: 10:05 PM CST Jan 10, 2017

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WEBVTT BENEFIT IS TO IMPROVE PUBLICSAFETY.>> REPORTER: THE CURRENT NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD.IT'S NO LONGER BEING SUPPORTED.THEY HAD TO UPGRADE.POLICE BELIEVE THEIR NEW SYSTEM OF CHOICE IS GOING TO SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY.>> IT'S A MOVING MAP.SO AS WE MOVE, THE MAP MOVES UNDERNEATH OF US.>> AND IT'S THE SAME MATH THAT HE'S BEEN USING FOR YEARS, BUT IT'S COME WITH COMPLICATIONS.>> AS IT IS NOW, WE WOULD ARE TOSWITCH BACK OVER TO GET TO OUR CAMERA VIEW.>> CONSTANTLY SWITCHING BETWEEN CAMERA AND MAP VIEWS IS ON ONE COMPUTER SCREEN, AND ALL IN MID-FLIGHT.>> THE TOUGH PART IS WE'RE TRYING TO WATCH ON THE CAMERA THE SUSPECT, BUT NOW WE HAVE TO FLIP TO A WHOLE DIFFERENT SCREEN.>> HE'S NOT IN THE LEFT LANE NOW.>> ALL OF THAT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE.THE OMAHA CITY COUNCIL APPROVINGTHE PURCHASE OF A NEW MAPPING SYSTEM.THIS VIDEO SHOWING HOW IT WORKS DURING AN ACTUAL PURSUIT IN WASHINGTON.>> THE NEW SYSTEM, THE DIRECTIONS AND STREET LABELS AREOVERLAID ON THE REALTIME VIDEO WE'RE WATCHING.IT'S ALL RIGHT THERE.WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING.>> THIS CHURCHILL NAVIGATION SYSTEM GIVES TAXPAYER THE BEST DEAL AND GIVES PILOTS THE BEST TOOLS FOR TRACKING SUSPECTS.>> ANYTIME WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THEIR JOB A LITTLE EASIER, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT.THEY HAVE A DIFFICULT JOB.>> IT CAN PINPOINT A PERSON TO ASPECIFIC LOCATION.>> THIS ONE WE CAN ZOOM IN ON TVAMERITRADE INTO A SEAT.IT WILL GIVE US THE SEAT NUMBER.>> THAT CAN HELP OFFICERS IN THEAIR DIRECT CRUISERS ON THE GROUND.>> BUT TO POLICE, THE BIGGEST BENEFIT IS BETTER PUBLIC SAFETY.>> THINGS WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN AWARE WE'RE ABLE TO DO YET BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THOSE OPTIONS TO US NOW.>> NOW THE NEW MAPPING SYSTEM WILL LIKELY BE INSTALLED SOME TIME IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.I'M TOLD IT'S ONE HARDWARE INSTALLATION AND ALL SOFTWARE UPGRADES AND SUPPORT ARE INCLUDED IN THAT COST.NOW, POLICE SAY ASIDE FROM SUSPECTS, THIS SYSTEM ALSO HELPSTHEM TRACK THINGS LIKE MISSING

Better eyes in the skies

The Omaha City Council approved the $234,000 purchase of a new navigation for the police department helicopter, Able 1.